Monday’s Campaign Round-Up, 5.5.14

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that won’t necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:

* The new USA Todaypoll shows Republicans with a key advantage in the 2014 midterms: they now lead Democrats by four, 47% to 43%, among registered voters. As a rule, Dems fare better among registered voters and struggle when it comes to likely voters.

* Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) has launched her first TV ad of the cycle in her home state of New Hampshire, airing a positive spot about her work bringing a new Veterans Clinic and Outpatient Center to a Granite State community. The commercial doesn’t mention Shaheen’s Republican challenger, former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.).

* Long-time incumbent Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) may have to run as a write-in candidate after apparently failing to submit the proper number of valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

* Residency Questions, Part I: “[Kansas] Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he has no power under Kansas law to keep U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts off the ballot in the state’s Republican primary. Roberts filed Friday for his fourth, six-year term in the Senate. He submitted the necessary paperwork shortly after tea party challenger Milton Wolf called on Kobach to reject any filing from Roberts.”

* Residency Questions, Part II: “Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) is facing fresh attacks from his primary challenger, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, over his commitment to Mississippi after a report revealed he’s listed a Washington, D.C., location as his primary address on numerous official documents.”

* The DCCC’s recruiting efforts in Florida are paying dividends: Ed Jany, a former member of the Army Special Forces and Marine Corps colonel, has agreed to take on Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.), who narrowly won a special election earlier this year. Jany was a registered Republican who recently switched affiliations.

* And don’t be too surprised if Sen. Joe Manchin (D) steps down in 2016 to return to his old job. The conservative Democrat suggested yesterday he’s open to returning to West Virginia to run for governor again.